In this final episode of the first series Mike visits the stunning Waterperry Gardens in Oxfordshire where he chats with Managing Director, Simon Buchanan, Head Gardener, Pat Havers and Fruit Consultant, Chris Lanczak. Waterperry Gardens is steeped in history, most notably with the arrival of the redoubtable Beatrix Havergal, with her partner Avice Sanders in September 1932. Together, at Waterperry, they set up a Horticultural School for Ladies which ran successfully until 1971. The heritage of the horticultural school remains at the core of what is done at Waterperry, with the sharing of staff knowledge with visitors and apprentices alike. The gardens themselves are evidence of Beatrix' horticultural virtuosity, in particular, the classical herbaceous border which remains an object of admiration to visitors, by virtue of the current gardeners' continuing faithfulness to its original conception. Mike chats to Managing Director Simon Buchanan about the history of Waterperry and his role in progressing the future of the gardens. He also chats to Pat Havers, Waterperry's Head Gardener, about her passion for Waterperry and gardening, how she started in the garden some twenty years ago and how they maintain the stunning herbaceous border and lots more. Later, Pat takes Mike to meet Fruit Consultant, Chris Lanczak who takes Mike behind the scenes of their in-house fruit production operation, explaining how everything works, how late frosts have affected some harvests and recalls some of his memories working under Beatrix Havergal. Mike brings the very essence of Waterperry Gardens to this episode, in his first outside broadcast. And if you like visiting gardens, then Waterperry Gardens is a definite addition to your garden visit 'wish-list'. Links: Waterperry Gardens - Instagram / Website Pat Havers - Instagram / Twitter Sadly, this is the last episode of Series 1, but Mike will return with a new series later this year. Thank you for all of your lovely messages and support for this first series. As always, if you wish to contact Mike, you can follow and contact him under his Instagram account (@mike_thegardener), or you can email him directly via the podcast email address, micthegardener01@gmail.com.
